February 13, 2013, 11:17AM

To honor the day area churches were filled with parishioners getting ashes spread on the foreheads as a reminder and celebration of human mortality, and as a sign of mourning and repentance to God. The ashes used are typically gathered from the burning of the palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday. Full story »

February 13, 2013, 11:02AM

Parishioners line up to receive ashes on their forehead from Father Beau Charbonnet at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Algiers on Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

February 13, 2013, 11:02AM

After receiving his ashes, Micah Remetich, 2, rests on the shoulder of his grandfather, Jim, while at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Algiers on Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

February 13, 2013, 11:02AM

Wearing fleur-de-lis earrings Teneika Steele wears another New Orleans tradition on her head, ashes that she received on Ash Wednesday at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Algiers on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. Steele listens to Pastor John Talamo and Parochial Vicar Beau Charbonnet talk during the services. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

February 13, 2013, 11:02AM

Parishioners line up to receive ashes on their forehead from Pastor John Talamo at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Algiers on Ash Wednesday, February 13, 2013. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)

February 13, 2013, 11:02AM

Kennedi Steele, 5, got ashes spread on her forehead along with her mom, Teneika, and her brother, Kameron, 8, on Ash Wednesday at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Algiers on Wednesday, February 13, 2013. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)